Rajiv Gandhi takes lead in India's elections

ByWITH ANALYSIS FROM MONITOR CORRESPONDENTS AROUND THE WORLDEDITED BY RANDY SHIPPJune 16, 1981

New Delhi
— Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's son, Rajiv, held a commanding lead in parliamentary elections seen as a test of his mother's administration as well as opening the way for him to become India's next leader. With 60 percent of the ballots counted, Gandhi had over 164,000 votes while his nearest rival had 12, 000 votes.

Mrs. Gandhi's Congress Party was winning almost all 7 parliamentary and 23 State Assembly seats at stake in the election, considered the first major test of her strength since she returned to power in January 1980. Officials estimated 2.8 million of 7 million eligible voters c ast ballots.